Iranian researchers produced copper iodide nanostructures by using pomegranate juice as a reducer

TEHRAN (INIC)- Iranian researchers from Nanotechnology and
Nanoscience Research Center of Kashan University produced copper iodide
nanostructures by using pomegranate juice as a reducer.

In this research, copper iodide nanostructures were produced through
co-precipitation method by using pomegranate juice as a natural reducer.

Anthocyanin molecule is pomegranate pigment. In addition to its reductive
properties, this molecule can be used as a surfactant in the synthesis of
various nanomaterials due to its high spatial prohibition. This molecule
agglomerates around metallic atoms and prevents the aggregation of the
compound. In the production of nanoparticles, various materials are formed some
of which may be hazardous. Therefore, natural materials were used in this
project in order to produce nanoparticles.

Copper iodide nanostructure has numerous applications, including its
application as a catalyst in the synthesis of phenol, aniline, and thiophenols
from aryl halides in aqueous solutions. Among other important applications of
this compound, mention can be made of solar cells as well as x-ray and gama-ray
detectors.

Results of the research showed that smaller nanoparticles are obtained by
increasing the volume of pomegranate juice. They also confirmed that the
reduction activity of pomegranate juice was as good as that of the common
chemical reducers such as sodium sulfite.

According to the researchers of the plan, researchers can obtain their required
materials by searching in the nature taking into consideration the scarcity of
some chemicals. It is both cost-effective and environmental friendly.

Results of the research have been published on 1 June 2013 in Materials
Letters, vol. 100. For more information about the details of the research, read
the full paper on pages 133-136 on the same journal.